Electric and air actuated multiple spindle drill press



Dec. 1, 1959 M. E. MITCHELL ELECTRIC AND AIR ACTUATED MULTIPLE SPINDLE DRILL PRESS Filed Aug. 16, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l I VIZ/l4 M/MCOLM KAI/ram;

INVENTOR.

Dec. 1, 1959 M. r-: MITCHELL 2,914,969

ELECTRIC AND AIR ACTUATED MULTIPLE SPINDLE DRILL PRESS Filed Aug. 16, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I i @}r 57 5/ I 49 9 @9- 45' f4 u l 45 I i 42 l l i 57" IN VENTOR. MTCHELL MLCOLM if Dec. 1, 1959 M. E. MITCHELL ELECTRIC AND AIR ACTUATED MULTIPLE SPINDLE DRILL PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E0. 5'.

Filed Aug. 16, 195'! m. 4 5 1 mm 6 a a nm U. 4w/E W o .i a 6 2 5 I w 7 a F 7 I L rw M 6 a s c 97 W 7 J av F m .i) u 0 U II II C i \J C 0 M United States Patent 2,914,969 IEILECIRICAND AIR ACTUATED MULTIPLE 'SPINDLE mun. PRESS Malcolm E. Mitchell, Los Angeles, Calif. Appl'icatidn August 16, 1957, Serial No. 678,493

Claims. (cl. 77-2-5 My invention relates to multiple spindle drill presses and similar tools. While various types of such tools have been proposed and others are in use in the machine shop industry, all such tools are either complicated or unduly costly, or" both.

It is the object of. my invention to provide simple and relatively inexpensive construction of multiple spindle drill press of novel construction; It is a further object of my invention to provide a simple and inexpensive construction of multiple machine tool which is adaptable to avariety of operations, such as drilling holes of different diameter, using different speeds of rotation, or reaming holes of different diameter, and like operations.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a tool which while inexpensive to produce is accurate, yet simple to operate.

Other objec'ts, advantages and features of my invert-- tion may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description, and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in a form I, at present, deem preferable.

Figure lis an elevation, with parts in. section, of the head of a drill press, including a turret element, constructed according to my invention, the view being broken to reduce the height thereof.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the parts of the drill press, shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a detail view in elevation of a motor operating the press with parts operative to raise and lower the motor shown in section.

Figure 4 is a section on the'line 44, Figure 1.

Figure 4a is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, on the Huerta- 4a, Figure 4.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the lower part of the turret element.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail view in elevation, drawn on a larger scale, showing locking means for the turret element; and

Figure 7 is a section on the line 77, Figure 5.

Referring now to Figure 1, the numeral 10 indicates the vertical tubular column of the drill press which may be-supported on the floor in any suitable way (not shown). A table 11 is mounted on column 10 and may be vertically adjusted thereon by sliding a sleeve 12 mounted on the column. and carrying the table. sleeve may be clamped-in adjusted position by any suitable clamping means operated by turning arm 13.

A lower collar- 14 and control mounting is secured on the column 10 and spaced above collar 14 and an upper collar 15 is secured to the column 10'.-

Fitted snugly between collars 14 and 15 to be rotatable on column 10 is-a turret 16 arranged-to carry a plurality of rotatable tools, such as drills 17.

As shown in Figure 4, the turret is formed as a three, fouror five-sided fitting, may possibly be six sided as feasible, 18 to each side of which is secured a separate.

to'ol'holder and drive units 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d and 19a,

The

thehrmngemeht of each being identical as shown in 0 side of the sleeve and is engaged by a pinion 24 formed on a shaft, the ends being mounted in bearings carried by each unit, one end of the shaft projecting outwardly sufficiently to be operated by a small crank fitted thereon as is usual practice (not shown).

The turret 16 with it's attached tool holding 1921, 19b,

- 19c, 19d and 19?: is rotatable by hand when air operated locking means are released together with air operated means for disengaging the "motor drive as will be later explained. The locking means is mounted in a housing 25 carried by collar 14.

A variable speed drive unit related to each arbor and including a stepped drive pulley 26 keyed to'the upper end ofeach arbor 20 and driven from a stepped drive pulley 27 mounted on a vertical shaft 28 carried in bearings in the turret adjacent each tool arbor. A filetion disc 29 is mounted on the upper end of each shaft 28 and can be brought under a friction disc driver 3U by the electric motor 31 of the drill press. A drive belt 32 is mounted on the stepped belt pulleys and is tensioned by a pulley 33 mounted on an adjustable bracket 34 held clamped in adjusted position by a bolt 35 passing through a slot in the bracket and tightened into a nut held against rotation on the bracket.

The mounting of the motor 31 as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 comprises a saddle or carriage 36 secured at its central section to the motor housing as by screws 37. and having thickened edges 38, 39 which are drilled for sliding on a pair of vertical pins 40; 41 mounted in apart 4-2 fitted on the upper end of the standard 10. A

edges 38 and j A- cylinder 43 isprovidedin the portion andthe upper open end is closed by a cover plate 44 held down bycap screws 45 on a sealing plate 46 resting on a shoulder rearwardly' projecting lug 39a is positioned between the undercut around the open end of the cylinderand hav-. ing a'sealing ring. 47 arranged tobe compressed between the plate 44,-the sealing plate 46 and the wall of the outer end of the cylinder. 7

A double acting piston 4 8 packed with sealing ring is positioned in cylinder 43 and the piston rod 49 thereof passesth'rough bores-in the sealing plate and cover plate and a hole in lug.39a. The outer end of, the piston rod' is threaded and clamped to lug 39a by nuts 50 and 51.

Air passages 52, 53 leading into the upper and lower ends respectively of cylinder 43 are controlled by a spool valve 54 to which pressure air is delivered through the pressure air supply'pipeSS through port'56. Valve 54 is manually actuated by red 57 which is arranged longitudinally within the standard Ill and projects upwardly.

through a bore in the part 42 The projecting end of the rod 57 'isfitted'with a laterally extending finger 58 which projects through and closely fits into a hole in an extension 59 of the valve spool 54.

The iewerend e'r the rod 57 is flattened and pivotally rod 57 due to slight deviation of the lower end of the column rod from true vertical due to the swinging movement of the end of lever 61 to which rod 57 is secured.

Pressure air is bled from the pressure air supply pipe through connection 64 and led to a pipe 65 running downwardly inside the column to a pipe connection 66 leading through the lower fixed collar to an exterior connecting pipe 67. I I

The latching means arranged in a small housing 25 (Fig. 5) comprises a double acting cylinder 68, closure 69 for the open end of the cylinder, piston 70 and piston rod 71, all arranged similarly to the double acting cylinder and piston for raising and lowering the motor as shown in Figure 3 and, therefore, not needing a more specific description. The outer end of the piston rod is fitted into a split head 72 having a finger 73 projecting laterally therefrom. Head 72 is clamped on the end of the piston rod 71 by tightening up screw 74.

A latch 75 (Fig. 5) sliding in a groove machined in the surface of the lower collar 14 is engaged by finger 73. Each side 18 of the turret is provided with slots 76 which may be aligned with the latch to bring any tool holder in line with the latch and be rigidly locked in position to enable the respective tool to be driven by the motor 31.

The piston 70 is controlled by a valve 77 which is similar in arrangement to the valve 54 previously described. Air is admitted to the center of valve cylinder 78 from air pipe 67. The valve is vertically moved by manual pressure up or down on knob 81.

The construction of valves 54 and 77 is as follows; a hole of appropriate size is drilled and reamed in parts 25 and 42 to form cylinders 43 and 78, into each of these cylinders are pressed four bushings made of brass or other non rusting metal. A small gap is left between the bushings on the ends, gaps are centered over port holes leading to work cylinders, these port holes are plugged on the outer end, this to be the final detail of assembly. A larger gap is left between bushings in the center to uncover port, admitting pressured air. These bushings are finished smooth inside with corners and edges rounded or beveled. Valve spools are formed with dual pistons with appropriate grooves for neoprene packing rings, longitudinal center distance equal to center distance between small gaps in cylinder bushings. Pistons are made to accomplish a running fit in bushings. The rod is turned smaller in diameter between pistons as clearance for air passage. The diameters on the extensions of rod beyond the pistons are of such a diameter in relation to inside diameter of bushings as to let the exhaust from working piston pass out, but to pass slowly, thus having a smooth acting piston with no sudden jarring or slamming, thus prolonging the life of the machine and promotion of delicate work. The rod extensions are provided with appropriate stops, positioning the pistons to admit pressure into work cylinder at one end and opening other end to to exhaust simultaneously, when the valve is moved to the opposite stop the process is reversed. When the piston valves are assembled and the compressed air is admitted to the cylinder through the central port, the valve is in balance and can be moved almost as easily as when the pressure is not on.

Many widely different adaptations of my novel invention may be made within the scope of said tool and without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, and it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification and drawings as to its use shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A multiple spindle drill press including, an elongate, vertically disposed column, a work supporting table fixed to and projecting laterally from the column, a turret rotatably carried by the column at a point spaced above the table and rotatably and shiftably supporting a plural- 4 vertically relative to the turret and the table, a tool engaging element at the lower end of each arbor, a drive unit carried by the turret and operatively coupled to the upper end of each arbor and carrying a fiat, horizontally and upwardly disposed driven disc, a vertically shiftable carriage at the upper end of the column, a prime mover on the carriage to occur in vertical spaced relationship above the table and the turret and driving a flat, horizontally and downwardly disposed drive disc, indexing means adapted to selectively position the turret with the arbors above the table and the driven disc related thereto in axial alignment with the drive disc and pneumatically operated drive means fixed relative to the column and related to the carriage to shift the carriage and the prime mover vertically and the drive disc into and out of engagement with the driven disc.

2. A multiple spindle drill press including, an elongate, vertically disposed column, a horizontally disposed work supporting table carried by the column to project laterally therefrom, a turret rotatably carried by the column at a point spaced above the table and carrying a plurality of circumferentially spaced bearing means, an elongate, vertically disposed arbor rotatably and shiftably carried by each bearing means, a manually operable means carried by the turret and related to each arbor to shift it vertically relative to the turret and the table, a tool engaging unit at the lower end of each arbor, a drive unit carried by the turret and related to the upper end of each arbor and including a. fiat, horizontally and upwardly disposed friction type driven disc, a vertically shiftable carriage at the upper end of the column, a prime mover on the carriage to occur in vertical spaced relationship above the turret and having a flat, horrzontally and downwardly disposed friction type drive disc, pneumatically operated indexing means engaged with the column and the turret adapted to rotate the turret and selectively position the arbors above the table and the driven discs related thereto in axial alignment with the drive disc and pneumatically operated drive means carried by the column to engage the carriage to shift the carriage and the prime mover vertically and the drive disc into and out of engagement with the driven disc.

3. A multiple spindle drill press including, an elongate, vertically disposed column, a horizontally disposed ity of cireumferentially spaced, elongate, vertically diswork supporting table carried by the column to project laterally therefrom, a turret rotatably carried by the column at a point spaced above the table and carrying a plurality of circumferentially spaced bearing means, an elongate, vertically disposed arbor rotatably and shiftably carried by each bearing means, 'a manually operable means carried by the turret and related to each arbor to shift it vertically relative to the turret and the table, a tool engaging unit at the lower end of each arbor, a drive unit carried by the turret and related to the upper end of each arbor and including a flat, horizontally and upwardly disposed friction type driven disc, a vertically shiftable carriage at the upper end of the column, a prime mover on the carriage to occur in vertical spaced relationship above the turret and having a fiat, horizontally and downwardly disposed friction type drive disc, pncu matically operated indexing means operatively coupled with the column and the turret and adapted to rotate the turret to selectively position the arbors above the table and the driven discs related thereto in axial alignment with the drive disc, pneumatically operated drive means carried by the column to engage the carriage to shift the carriage and the prime mover vertically and the drive disc into and out of engagement with the driven. disc, and a manually operable control valve operatively coupled to the indexing and drive means.

4. A multiple spindle drill press including, an elongate, vertically disposed column, a horizontally disposed work supporting table carried by the column to project laterally therefrom, a turret rotatably carried by the column at a point spaced above the table and carrying a plurality of circumferentially spaced bearing means, an elongate, vertically disposed arbor rotatably and shiftably carried by each bearing means, a manually operable means carried by the turret and related to each arbor to shift it vertically relative to the turret and the table, a tool engaging unit at the lower end of each arbor, a variable speed drive unit carried by the turret and related to the upper end of each arbor and including a flat, horizontally and upwardly disposed friction type driven disc, a vertically shiftable carriage at the upper end of the column, an electric motor on the carriage to occur in vertical spaced relationship above the turret and carrying and driving a flat, horizontally and downwardly disposed friction type drive disc, pneumatically operated indexing means operatively coupled between the column and the turret and adapted to rotate the turret and selectively position the arbors above the table and the driven di-scs related thereto in axial alignment with the drive disc and pneumatically operated drive means carried by the column to engage the carriage to shift the carriage and the prime mover vertically and the drive disc into and out of engagement with the driven disc.

5. A multiple spindle drill press including, an elongate, vertically disposed column, a horizontally disposed work supporting table carried by the column to project laterally therefrom, a turret rotatably carried by the column at a point spaced above the table and carrying a plurality of circumferentially spaced bearing means, an elongate, vertically disposed arbor rotatably and shiftably carried by each bearing means, a manually operable means carried by the turret and related to each arbor to shift it vertically relative to the turret and the table, a tool engaging unit at the lower end of each arbor, a variable speed drive unit carried by the turret and related to the upper end of each arbor and including a fiat, horizontally and upwardly disposed friction type driven disc, a vertically shiftable carriage at the upper end of the column, an electric motor on the carriage to occur in vertical spaced relationship above the turret and carrying and driving a flat, horizontally and downwardly disposed friction type drive disc, pneumatically operated indexing means operatively coupled with the turret and the column and adapted to rotate the turret relative to the column and selectively position the arbors above the table and the driven discs related thereto in axial alignment with the drive disc, pneumatically operated drive means carried by the column to engage the carriage to shift the carriage and the prime mover vertically and the drive disc into and out of engagement with the driven disc, and a manually operable control valve operatively coupled to the indexing and drive means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,461,755 Cox July 17, 1923 2,501,386 Gibbs Mar. 21, 1950 2,529,753 Williams Nov. 14, 1950 2,672,773 Schofield Mar. 23, 1954 

